Presidency silent over Tinubu’s whereabouts after official trips abroad

Presidency silent over Tinubu’s whereabouts after official trips abroad

There are concerns over the whereabouts of President Bola Tinubu as he has not returned to Nigeria a week after his official assignments in Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Tinubu travelled out on April 23 and had last attended a two-day meeting  of the World Economic Forum (WEF) that ended on Monday April 29, 2024.

But since the programme ended, the Presidency has not released any statement on what is still keeping the President abroad.

A report by Daily Trust said there were speculations that the President must have proceeded to Paris, France, where he had travelled to several times for medical treatment.

It also reported a Presidency source as saying Tinubu had travelled to London shortly after completing the Riyadh assignment in Saudi Arabia.

“A highly placed official at the Presidency told one of our reporters yesterday that the President ‘is at the moment in London on a private visit’.”

The President on April 23 left Abuja for the Kingdom of the Netherlands on an official visit.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, had, in a statement, said the visit was on the invitation of Prime Minister Mark Rutte.

Ngelale said while in the Netherlands, Tinubu would engage in high-level discussions with the Prime Minister and hold separate meetings with His Royal Majesty, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Kingdom.

He stated, “While in the Netherlands, the President will participate in the Nigerian-Dutch Business and Investment Forum, that will bring together heads of conglomerates and organisations in both countries to explore opportunities for collaboration and partnerships, especially in agriculture and water management towards innovative solutions for sustainable farming practices.”

Ngelale also said Tinubu would, as part of the official visits, also proceed to attend a special WEF meeting scheduled for April 28-29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

As of today May 6, both President Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima are out of the country.